In The News

As you age, you may notice more and more blue and purple spider veins appearing on your legs and face. Spider veins, also known as superficial telangiectasias, are damaged blood vessels that are visible beneath the skin’s surface. Spider veins are named for their web-like formation, but can also appear as simple lines or tree-like branches. You can cover up spider veins on legs with long pants, but spider veins on the face may be harder to hide. Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center can eliminate spider veins on the legs and face with laser vein treatment.

Energy from lasers causes damaged veins to coagulate and shrink. Laser vein treatment works best on small to medium-sized veins; therefore, the treatment is more suitable for spider veins than larger varicose veins. During treatment, patients report feeling like they are being snapped by a rubber band. While the treatment may be temporarily uncomfortable, it requires no sedatives, anesthesia, or pain medicine. Your veins may be more visible directly following treatment, but they will quickly fade. Repeat treatments may be necessary to eliminate spider veins completely. Certified laser technicians recommend spacing laser vein treatment sessions a month apart from each other to allow for optimal results.

Spider veins are difficult to prevent because their causes are numerous including: pregnancy, hormone fluctuation, weight gain, prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, trauma, and weight gain. By paying attention to the pressure placed on legs, exercising, controlling weight, wearing sunscreen, and eating a fiber-rich diet, you can help prevent the ugly veins from appearing. Spider veins are not usually serious, but they can become uncomfortable. If you are interested in eliminating unwanted spider veins, schedule a consultation with us today. Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center’s technology can also take care of other blemishes, like acne, scars, age spots, freckles, and birthmarks. For more information on our laser procedures and cosmetic skin procedures, visit our website and continue to read our blog.

Q: Aren’t lasers too powerful to use in sensitive areas like the wrinkles around my eyes? A: No, while lasers are extremely powerful, they’re also very specific. Lasers like the fractionated CO2 laser can target individual areas to reduce wrinkling and uneven surface texture without damaging surrounding skin.

Q: Can lasers be used to treat my ugly leg and face veins?A: Absolutely! Lasers are attracted to pigment, so just like the pigment in hair attracts the light for laser hair removal, the pigment in veins absorbs the laser light to slowly decrease in diameter: removing spider veins and varicose veins on the face and legs.

Q: Can I get laser tattoo removal on my face if my skin is darker?A: Yes you can, but you should be careful to only entrust a qualified laser technician with the proper equipment to perform your laser tattoo removal. If your skin has lots of melanin in it, you are at a greater risk of developing scars from a laser treatment. Every laser emits a different strength of light, so you must find a well equipped laser center to accommodate your needs.

Q: Can’t cellulite only be reduced by losing weight?A: While the presence of cellulite is caused by heavy distributions of fat just underneath the skin that can’t be removed with Viora Reaction™, the treatments can noticeably reduce the appearance of the skin condition.

Q: How does Reaction™ work?A: Viora Reaction™ uses radiofrequency energy and vacuum-therapy suction to increase circulation to the cellulite afflicted area: reducing the appearance of the dimpled fat associated with cellulite when treatments are performed regularly.

Q: What areas can be treated with Viora Reaction™?A: Because the system is topical, any skin area with enough fat can be treated. The most common areas to receive Viora Reaction™ are the lower abdomen, thighs, and buttocks of men and women. In fact, Reaction™ can actually be used as an anti-aging treatment to tighten loose facial skin.

Q: How many treatments are required for results?A: Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center patients have reported noticeable results after only a few treatments; however, we usually recommend a six to eight treatments followed by less frequent follow-up treatments to optimize and maintain cellulite reduction results.

Laser skin resurfacing is used to help rid the skin of imperfections such as wrinkles, sun damage, melasma, and acne scarring. Recently, an article published by Medical News Today discussed research conducted by Susanne Dams, Research Scientist at Phillips Research Eindhoven. Dams studied the effects of heat in laser therapy to better understand how heat treatment compares to the skin resurfacing abilities laser light alone.

In her research, Dams targeted cell cultures with heat shocks of 45 ̊ and 60 ̊ C. Results showed an increase in collagen production; the protein that aids in skin rejuvenation. Collagen production decreases with age; causing skin to become looser and creating fine lines and wrinkles. Dams discovered that higher temperatures (that of 60 ̊ C) damaged skin cells causing cell necrosis, while 45 ̊ C temperatures produced the best results. While Dams research proved the effectiveness of heat therapy for skin rejuvenation, she said she still favors laser skin resurfacing therapy because it can treat more specific areas without damaging others.

While this information is interesting and helpful, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center agrees with Dams and prefers the use of the CO2 Fractionated Laser for laser skin resurfacing. The CO2 Fractionated Laser works by creating tiny, column shaped wounds to improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, brown spots, melasma, and acne scarring. The body naturally heals these wounds by increasing collagen production, elastin, and new skin cells. Our CO2 Fractionated Laser treats specific areas, so patients can treat problem areas like crow’s feet, mariotte lines (wrinkles around the mouth), and sagging jowls without damaging healthy areas of skin. An added benefit of this procedure is its ability to remove unwanted facial hair.

Most people deal with acne at some point in their lives. Whether it’s the more traditional, hormone induced acne produced by adolescence or the tougher to treat adult onset acne, one thing is certain: it’s incredibly frustrating. Acne has a slew of causes, but generally it’s a condition resulting from clogged pores. The hormone induced acne mentioned earlier results from oil deposits blocking the skin’s pores. During puberty, or other times in an individual’s life during which they have great hormonal shifts (i.e.- pregnancy, childbirth, etc.), the body produces excess sebum (oil) which can sit atop the skin’s surface and blocks pores if not eliminated appropriately.

Most dermatologists and skin care professionals will prescribe a topical product containing salicyilic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help dry the excess oil. However, what most patients don’t take into consideration is that as seasons change (like they are now) the air becomes dryer. The dryer environment, coupled with the products’ drying effects, can exacerbate a patient’s acne as the skin becomes littered with excess, dead skin cells that also clog pores.

For many patients experiencing dry, peeling skin during the autumn and winter months, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center offers microdermabrasion treatments. The microderm treatments use an electronically assisted, manual device to gently slough the dry skin and outermost dead cells from the surface. Unlike topical scrubs that apply the same treatment over the entire face, microdermabrasion allows aestheticians to alter the level of exfoliation to address specific issues (i.e.- more power in acne prone areas). For those patients with more surface issues like wrinkles, chemical peels can also be used to eliminate the excess oils, skin cells, and surface imperfections.